How is a bespoke trophy actually made?

A bespoke trophy goes through six stages in our workshop: a brief and concept sketches, 3D design in CAD, a 3D-printed master, finishing by electroplating or paint, engraving and plaques, then the base, case and packing. A single piece typically takes 5 to 7 working days once the design is approved, longer for matched sets. We have built awards this way for SGX, GIC, BMW Group Asia, Crestron and the Singapore Armed Forces, and every one of them started as a conversation, not a catalogue page.

Where does the design start?

With whatever you have: a logo, a theme, a mascot, or just the occasion. Our custom trophy service begins by sketching two to three directions and picking one with you. For the SGX mascot trophy that meant working closely with the client until the figure, carrying a load of metal rods on its shoulders, symbolised the resilience SGX wanted, before any modelling began. The Spartan statue award for the leaders of the last batch of 6 SIR came together the same way, through continuous communication until the piece fitted the occasion.

If you would rather explore ideas before talking to anyone, the Trophy Studio is our in-browser design chat: tell it your budget and deadline, browse real past pieces, and preview a design before you commit.

What gets decided in CAD?

More than the shape. The selected concept goes into 3D design with the engraving plate areas, mounting points and presentation packaging designed in from the start, so nothing is an afterthought. On the GIC awards, the logo was integrated directly into the model rather than applied afterwards, which is why the finished pieces read so cleanly.

Why is the master 3D printed?

Because printing frees the form. A sculpted mascot, sharp architectural tapers or a perforated shell would be expensive or impossible to machine, but they print. We print masters in SLA resin for fine detail or FDM for scale. The square perforations on our electroplated trophy were modelled and printed to tight tolerances so every face matched, and the GIC award bodies were printed at high resolution for crisp angles, then reinforced internally for durability.

Sometimes the printed part is not the star at all. For the Crestron camera trophy we mounted a real Crestron PTZ camera as the award itself, 3D-printed the base in stiff carbon-fibre-filled PETG-CF, and re-wired the camera’s LED strip so it stays lit on the shelf.

How does a printed part end up looking like cast metal?

Preparation, then plating. Each part goes through multi-stage sanding, priming and smoothing until the surface is flawless, because plating magnifies every defect. Then it is electroplated in real chrome, gold, copper or brass: an actual metal skin, 50 to 200 microns thick, with the weight and reflectivity to match. The mirror gold of the electroplated trophy and the mirror-grade chrome on the gold and silver GIC variants were both produced this way. As a guide, chrome or copper plating runs about S$60 to S$100 on a hand-sized part and gold or antique finishes S$100 to S$180; our electroplating guide covers the full range of finishes.

Not every award wants to be metal. The BMW MINI Retail Next trophy pairs a 3D-printed emblem in metallic silver with a clear acrylic panel and a layered acrylic base with a green-tinted block, and airbrushed colour work (S$40 to S$120 on a hand-sized piece) handles gradients and brand colours. All of it happens on our in-house finishing bench.

What about engraving, bases and presentation?

The last stage is the part the recipient touches first. Plaques are engraved and personalised per recipient: the MINI trophy carries its congratulatory message and branding in crisp engraving, while the Crestron base has a recessed slot its etched metal plate drops straight into, the whole piece finished under a clear acrylic case. Bespoke presentation cases are designed alongside the trophy, so it is ready to hand over on the day.

How long does it take, and what does it cost?

A single piece with simple geometry runs 5 to 7 working days from design approval. A run of 20 to 50 with electroplating is 2 to 3 weeks, and a volume run with bespoke presentation cases is 4 to 6 weeks. We have turned trophies in 48 hours when the alternative was no trophy at all, so tell us the deadline up front.

Every piece is quoted per design. For matched sets we cast from a silicone mould, from S$300 per mould, or print in batches, with volume discounts from 10 units: around 10 percent at 10 to 24, 20 percent at 25 to 99 and 30 percent at 100 and above. That one-to-five-hundred range is much of the reason companies order custom trophies in Singapore from a fabrication studio rather than a catalogue; our awards landing page shows the spread.

Start a design in the Trophy Studio, or send your logo, theme and quantity through our contact page and we will propose a concept and a price, usually the same business day.